Multihead dry shaver



Oct. 17, 1950 H. E. PAGE 2,526,153

MULTIHEAD DRY SHAVER Filed Nov. 20, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 lNVENTQR \m Iii; ATTQRNEV H- E- PAGE MULTIHEAD DRY SHAVER Oct. 17, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 20, 1946 Patented oct. 17, 1950' UNITED MULTIHEAD DRY SHAVER- Herbert E. Page, Oakwood, Ohio I Application'November 20, 1946, Serial No. 711,143

9 Claims.

This invention relates generally to dry shavers, and has particular although not limited reference to devices of this class in which the cutter assembly is characterized by a freely rotatable outer a multi-head shaver of simple, durable construction and one of improved operating efficiency.

Other objects and structural details of the invention will appear from the following description, when read inconnection with the accompanying .drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of a dry shaver constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary View ofgthe shaver in side elevation, being partly .broken away to show details of the operating mechanism of the head;

Fig. 3 is a view in side longitudinal-section, taken substantially along the line 3-3.of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the shaver, the closure cap being partly broken away;

Fig. 5 is a view incross section taken substantially along the line 55 of Fig. 2; 1

Fig. 6 is a detailed view, in perspective, of the cutter assemblies and the mounting therefor;

Fig. 7- is a detailed view, in perspective, of the cutter actuator; o

Fig. 8 is a view in side longitudinal section, similar to Fig. 3, showing a second embodiment of the invention'f Referring to Fig. l, in the embodiment of the invention there illustrated the dry shaver comprises a casing composed of two parts, namely, a housing l0 shaped to fit within the hand of the user and a removable cap-l I surrounding the cutting head. Within the housing 10 is a rotary electric motor which is-not here shown sinceany motor conventional with this class of device may be used. An electrical conduit l2 enters the housing H] at one end thereof and is adapted for connection to an electric current outlet. At its opposite end the housing I0 is closed, as shown in Fig. 2, and is formed with a peripheral shelf [3 on which cap ll rests. Complementary elements on the cap and on housing"! provide detenting means for yieldingly holding the cap in a reciprocating action.

upon shelf [3. The cap II is open at its outer end to expose the cutter assemblies, there being two such assemblies, indicated respectively at c and c The motor within housing IEI drives in a rotary direction a shaft l lj The upper end of shaft 7 M has a bearing in a bushing l5 mounted in the closed end wall of housing l0. Projecting up Ward from the end of shaft l4, and offset from the longitudinal axis thereof, is a pinlii extending into a slot I! in a U-shaped actuating member l8 (see also Figs. 5 and '7). Actuator l8is mounted on,the closed end wall of housinglfl for sliding motion in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the cutter assemblies C and C The slot l1 therein is rectangular in shape, the lengthwise dimension thereof being at right angles to the direction of motion ofactuator vI3. The construction and arrangement accordingly is such that in response to rotation of shaft I4, pin [6 thereon moves within slot I! and acts as a cam, causing member Hi to slide back and forth The actuator I8 is guided in its motion by a fixed bracket l9 which overlies the base portion thereof and rests on the closed end of housing ID on opposite sides of the reciprocating member. Bracket i9 is secured to housing [0 by screws 2| or the like.

The upstanding end portions of actuator 1.8 have a generally square formation with the outer corners thereof shaped as disc-like projections 22. The fixed bracket 59 is formed with upstanding ears 23 rigidly connected by a rod 24. The rod 24 provides a pivotal mounting for a pair of arms 25 (see also Figs. 3, 4 and 6) one of which is supported adjacent each ear piece 23. Rod 24 is passed through the arms 25 at approximately mid-points thereof. In the opposite ends of each arm is formed a slot 26 receiving one end of a shaft 21 comprised in the cutter assem- 1blies. Each arm 25 further is formed with turned over lugs 23 on opposite sides of the ear pieces 23. Between each lug 28 and the base of fixed bracket [9 is a coiled compression spring 29. The springs 29 exercise opposed thrusts on each arm 25 so that the arm normally is maintained in an intermediate horizontal plane, but may be rocked therefrom in response to the application-of unequal pressures at the ends thereof.

The cutter assemblies C and C are generally similar in their construction to that disclosed in the now abandoned application of Louis Wozar, Serial No. 633,328, filed December 7, 1945, for Dry Shaver. Thus, each comprises a perforate freely rotatable outer cylinder 3|, the ends of which are closed by plates 32 and 33 rotatably mounted on a shaft 21. The outer opening in cap H, through which the cylinders 3| normally slightly project, closely surrounds the cylinders in a manner preventing endwise motion thereof but permitting them free rotation about the shafts 21. Within cylinder 3| is a shearing unit including the shaft 21. The shaft 2'! is longitudinally disposed within cylinder 3| and extends through and beyond the plates 32 and 33. Within the cylinder the shaft has a generally square formation and has mounted thereon in spaced relation a series of cutter blades 34 of flat coin-like shape. The blades 34 have cut-away portions fitting over the shaft 21, the shaft 2'! being radially grooved at spaced points to receive the blades and to pre- 7 vent endwise relative motion thereof. The shaft 21 further is formed with a longitudinal groove 35. Within the groove 35, at positions of registry with the cutter blades 34, are compression springs 36 adapted and arranged to urge the blades out- Ward toward contact with the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder 3|. The outer edge of each blade 34 is fiat and smooth for close sliding engagement with the cylinder 3 I, and in circumferential outline is curved in conformance with the cylinder. Further, each blade may be undercut adjacent its outer edge to form knifelike portions 31. v

The opposite ends of the shafts 21, which lie within the slots 26 in arms 25, are flattened to prevent turning motion of the shearing assembly. Also, the engagement of the shafts in such slots may be accomplished by a press fit inhibiting accidental dislodgement of the cutter assemblies. The shafts further project through and beyond the slots 26 into cooperative relation with respective disclike projections 22 of the actuator l8. Accordingly, the reciprocating motion of the actuator l8 effects a corresponding and synchronous motion of the shafts 21 and of the blades 34 mounted thereon. Such motion of the provides a cutting action for shearing hair projecting into the cylinder through the perfora- L tions, slots or other openings which may be formed in the cylinder. For simplified clean ng, the cylinder end plates 32 and 33 may have openings 39 formed therein.

It will be observed that the present invention provides a multi-head shaver which because of the feature of freely rotating outer cylinders, and because of the feature of a yielding mounting of the cutter assemblies possesses significant features of advantage. In use, the shaver head rolls over the face due to traction and an automatic adjustment of the angle of inclination of the cutter assemblies takes place as the shaver encounters the chin line and other facial irregularities. The construction and arrangement of the upstanding end portions of the actuator l8 are such as to permit operation of the shafts 2'! in any position of adjustment the arms may assume.

While the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive shows but two cutter assemblies, it is possible, without departing from the spirit of the invention, to incorporate three or more heads in one unit. Referring to Fig. 8, a three assembly head is shown. According to this construction, the fixed bracket IQ of the first embodiment takes the form of a bracket 38 having three turned up ears 39, Ali and 42, each provided with an opening 33 through which the cutter shaft 21a is passed. Also within each opening 43 is a spring 44 bearing on the shaft 27a, the separate springs cooperating to hold the cutter assemblies normally in a common horizontal plane, but yielding to unequal pressure to permit such assemblies to move as units independently of one another. It further will be understood that in this embodiment of the invention, the upstanding end portions of actuator l8a will be provided with a third disc-like projection 45 intermediate projections 22a.

What is claimed is:

1. A multi-head dry shaver, comprising a casing, a motor in said casing, actuating means driven by said motor, a plurality of cutter assemblies arranged in parallel relation with respect to each other, each said assemblies comprising a perforate outer shear plate, and inner shearing means movable relatively to said shear plate, means for transmitting the motion of said actuating means to said inner shearing means, and a mounting for said cutter assemblies providing motion thereof simultaneously as individual units relative to said casing, said mounting being further arranged to cause movement of each of the assemblies relative and in response to movement of the remainder of the assemblies.

2. A multi-head dry shaver, comprising a casing, a motor in said casing, actuating means driven by said motor, a pair of cutter assemblies arranged in parallel relation with respect to each other, each said assemblies comprising a perforate outer shear plate and relatively movable inner shearing means, means for transmitting the motion of said actuating means to said inner shearing means, and a mounting for said cutter assemblies providing simultaneous rocking motion of both thereof relative to each other and relative to sa d actuating means and said casing.

3. A multi-head dry shaver, comprising a casing, a motor in said casing, a reciprocable member driven by said motor and formed with upstanding end portions, a plurality of cutter assemblies arranged in side by side relation with their ends embraced by the end portions of said reciprocable member, each said assemblies comprising a perforate outer shear plate and relatively movable inner shearing means, said shearing means including a reciprocable shaft the ends of which extend into cooperative relation with the upstanding end portions of saidreciprocable member, and a yielding mounting for said cutter assemblies permitting motion thereof as units relatively to said reciprocable member and said casing, the shafts of said cutter assemblies and the upstanding end portions of said reciprocable member retaining a cooperative relation in all relative positions of said assembl es.

4. A multi-head dry shaver, comprising a casing, a motor in said casing, a reciprocable member driven by said motor and formed with upstanding end portions, a pair of cutter assemblies arranged in side by side relation with their ends embraced by the end portions of said reciprocable member, each said assemblies comprising a perforate outer shear plate and relatively movable inner shearing means, said inner shearing means including a reciprocable shaft the ends of which extend into cooperative relation with the upstanding portions of said reciprocable member, a support for said cutter assemblies including a bracket fixed to said casing, rocker arms pivotally mounted on said bracket and arranged in supporting relation to the shafts of said cutter assemblies, and springs urging said arms to a normal position from which they may be rocked ends embraced by the end portions of said reciprocable member, each said assemblies comprisin a perforate freely rotatable outer cylinder and relatively movable shearing means within said cylinder, said shearing means including a shaft reciprocable longitudinally of the axis of said cylinder and the ends of which extend outside said cylinder into cooperative relation with the upstanding end portions of said reciprocable member, each said shafts providing a bearing for rotation of its respective outer cylinder, a support for said cutter assemblies ineluding a bracket fixed to said casing, rocker arms pivotally connected at their center points to said bracket and having their ends arranged in supporting relation to the shafts of said cutter assemblies, and opposed springs urging said arms to a normal desired plane.

6. A head for dry shavers, comprisinga plurality of cutter assemblies arranged with their longitudinal axes in parallel relation, each said assemblies comprising a perforate outer shear plate and relative movable inner shearing means, each said shearing means including a shaft reciprocable in the direction of the longitudinal axis of said shear plate, said shaft constituting the principal support of the cutter assembly, a resilient mounting for each said shaft interposing a yield whereby said cutter assemblies I may assume different angles of inclination as said head is moved over the face, and power driven means for imparting reciprocable motion simultaneously to said shafts.

'7. A head for dry shavers, comprising a plurality of cutter assemblies arranged with their longitudinal axes in parallel relation, each said assemblies comprising a perforate outer shear plate and relatively movable inner shearing means, each said shearing means including a shaft reciprocable in the direction of the longitudinal axis of said shear plate, said shaft constituting the principal support of the cutter assembly, a resilient mounting for each said shaft interposing a yield whereby said cutter assemblies may assume different angles of inclination as said head is moved over the face, a common actuator for said shafts, said actuator comprising portions embracing the opposite ends of said shafts in all angular positions of said cutter assemblies, and power driven means for imparting reciprocable motion to said actuator.

8. A head for dry shavers, comprising a pair of cutter assemblies arranged with their longitudinal axes in parallel relation, each said assemblies comprising a perforate freely rotatable cylinder and relatively movable shearing means within said cylinder, each said shearing means including a shaft reciprocable in the direction of the longitudinal axis of its associated cylinder and having its ends extending through and beyond the ends of said cylinder, rocker arms at the opposite ends of said cutter assemblies, the

ends of said arms being operatively engaged with respective ends of said shafts, a mounting for said arms providing for rocking motion thereof about a point intermediate said cutter assemblies, spring means maintaining said arms yieldingly in a normal desired plane, said arms being permitted to rock in response to unequal pressure on said cutter assemblies whereby said assemblies may assume different angles of inclination as the head is moved over the surface to be shaved, and power driven means for imparting reciprocable motion to said shafts.

9. A multi-head dry shaver, comprising a casing, a motor in said casing, a reciprocable member driven by said motor and formed with upstanding end portions, a plurality of cutter assemblies arranged in side by side relation with their ends embraced by the end portions of said reciprocable member, each said assemblies including a perforate freely rotatable outer cylinder and relatively movable inner shearing means, each said shearing means including a shaft reciprocable in the direction of the longitudinal axis of its associated cylinder and extending through and beyond'the ends of said cylinder and providing a rotatable bearing therefor,'supports for said cutter assemblies, and means independent of said supports on the upstanding end portions of said reciprocable member cooperative with said shafts to impart thereto the motion of said member.

, HERBERT E. PAGE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,232,717 Monnet Feb. 25, 1941 2,363,849 Bailey Nov. 28, 1944 2,371,535 McGuflin Mar, 13, 1945 2,440,114 Page Apr. 20, 1948 

